She Let Herself Go

Today, I was able to really FEEL that I chose the right career.

I have known for a long time that I have wanted to be a hairdresser. I have told the story many times that in elementary school (2nd grade...I think?) our teachers asked us to make tshirts for MLK Day about what we wanted to be. I wanted to be a cosmetologist, but I didn't know how to spell that long word. I really wish I would have kept that shirt with the stick person sitting in the hydraulic salon chair getting their haircut by another stick person. ;)

As a kid, I remember my friends coming over and I always wanted to do their hair. I didn't ever want to go outside to play, really. I remember being 7 or 8 and having my curling iron all fired up and then my little cousin grabbing it with her hands and getting a sweet blister. I got in a little trouble over that ordeal. My friend's parents would say "Maybe a little less hairspray this time, Amanda." ;)

Today, I had a client who I haven't seen in awhile. I know that she has been through a lot over the last several months. Actually, more than a lot. More than anyone should go through in a lifetime. I could tell that she really needed me. She was nervous because I had never done her hair before, but she hadn't had her hair cut or colored in months so she knew she needed a change. She had about four inches of very grey outgrowth when she arrived. We talked about what we would do and how it was time for something new and fresh. She told me that she looked online before she came at "old lady" hairstyles and it made her sick at what the styles were for her age. I remember going into her business while I was in beauty school and she always had her nails polished. When she arrived, she did not have her nails done. I could just tell that she had stopped taking care of herself over the last few months. I colored her hair and then cut it. I then cut her bangs like we talked about. She said "My bangs are too short." (Hairdresser heart attack....) I asked her to just wait until we were all done and then we would take a look at everything. I finished up styling and teaching her how to style her new cut, asked her to put on her glasses and then handed her the mirror. She looked at it and said "Oh my...I LOVE IT!!!" She smiled SO big and then she began to cry. She finally felt good...and she looked so beautiful.

My passion is not about playing with hair all day. That is not what drives me. My passion is about taking people away from the things that they worry about all day just for an hour or maybe it's only a half hour. I love to learn about people and the way that they tick. I love to know EVERYTHING about people.  I love making people feel special because everyone is.